Stress-Testing Europe: Normalizing the Post-Fukushima Crisis

The Fukushima accident was a crisis in Japan, and a crisis elsewhere. In Europe, the aftermath of Fukushima was a period of intense questioning, about how to ensure the safety of nuclear reactors, and how, at the same time, ensure the ability of the European Union to act as a consistent political actor in the face of potentially catastrophic risks. Using empirical material related to the post-Fukushima stress tests and the subsequent discussions about the European regulatory framework for nuclear safety, this paper shows that stress tests have provided a peculiar form of European intervention, restabilizing regulatory boundaries while extending the European gaze. It describes the overall operation thereby performed as the “normalization of the crisis” whereby the exceptional situation enters the realm of the normal functioning of the public administrations, and where the actions undertaken take the form of the legal norm.

     

Metabolic and performance responses of male runners wearing 3 types of footwear: Nike Vaporfly 4%, Saucony Endorphin racing flats,and their own shoes

Purpose:We compared running economy(RE) and 3-km time-trial(TT) variables of runners wearing Nike Vaporfly 4%(VP4),Saucony Endorphin lightweight racing flats(FLAT),and their habitual running(OWN) footwear.Methods:Eighteen male recreational runners(age=33.5± 11.9 year(mean± SD),peak oxygen uptake(VO_{2 peak})=55.8± 4.4 mL/kg·min)attended 4 sessions approximately 7 days apart.The first session consisted of a VO_{2 peak} test to inform subsequent RE speeds set at 60%,70%,and 80% of ...     

‘White men can’t jump in a black basketball game?’ An exploratory investigation of implicit strategies of outgroup discrimination

Examining the ‘natural’ athlete myth and utilizing the recent literature on cultural/social factors in athleticism and basketball, this study through survey research examines the influence of stereotypes on the impression formation of basketball players. The primary research question is to determine from a group of students the attitudes of basketball players in terms of how they evaluate white and black players in basketball. The purpose is to identify participants’ perceptions and their appreciation as to whether or not black are superior to white basketball players. The theoretical framework employed is articulated around the theory of social categorization and racial stereotypes already observed in sports. In an initial qualitative phase, the results show that stereotypical representations exert an influence on the skills associated with basketball players depending on the colour of their skin, which is reflected in the use of adjectives specific to each of the categories of black and white. In a second quantitative phase, whereas a more favourable view of black basketball players might have been attributable to positive discrimination as per the anti-racist norm, the results show the activation of a bias towards favouring one’s own group. Once all of the initial adjectives have been expressed, the targets behave in the expected way in terms of the laws of social categorization i.e. they have a more positive view of the members of their own group (the Whites) than of the other group (the Blacks) as adjectives are cited for describing skills.     

The Capricious Nature of Theory of Mind: Does Mental State Understanding Depend on the Characteristics of the Target?

Using a between-groups design and random assignment, this study examined 214 Turkish children's (M = 11.66 years) mindreading and general reasoning about in-group members (Turks), similar out-group members (Syrians within Turkey) and dissimilar out-group members (Northern Europeans). Children heard four mindreading and four general reasoning stories with in-group or out-group members as targets. Whereas children's general reasoning about three groups was equivalent, accuracy of mental state inferences differed by target with more accurate mindreading of in-group targets compared to both sets of out-group targets. In this Turkish sample, mindreading of Syrian targets was the least accurate. Prejudice and perceived realistic threat predicted lower mindreading. These findings have important implications for understanding how similarity and intergroup processes play a role in children's mindreading.     

A user-friendly calibration system for bicycle ergometers, home trainers and bicycle power monitoring devices

In this study, a new system for the calibration of bicycle ergometers, home trainers and bicycle power monitoring devices is described. This system contains a portable calibration rig as well as a specialised calibration software and is designed for easy and efficient use directly on-site by non-expert personnel. Key features of the calibration rig include a cradle used to implement a torque reaction measurement technique, roller casters, sliding coupling, and crowned splines to facilitate and speed up the calibration process. The maximum power uncertainty delivered by the calibration rig for a nominal power level range of 50–600 W is ±0.9%. A software to guide users through the calibration process and generate calibration charts is described. To illustrate how the calibration system is typically used, the calibration charts of two different brands of home trainers have been obtained, and the power output measurement accuracy of two bicycle power monitoring devices has been determined. Power discrepancies were noted. The results in this study reveal that the calibration system is an effective tool in characterising the behaviour of home trainers.     

Effects of pitch spatial references on players’ positioning and physical performances during football small-sided games

The aim of this study was to identify the effects of adding spatial references during football small-sided games in youth players’ tactical and physical performance. Twelve under-15 players performed a Gk+ 6v6+ Gk game under two playing conditions: (i) without spatial references (CONTROL condition); (ii) with spatial references, by dividing equally the pitch into three corridors and three sectors (experimental situation, LINES). Players’ positional data was used to compute time-motion and tactical-related variables. The results revealed that performance under LINES situation increased the regularity in the zones occupied (~14%, Cohen’s d: 0.5; ±0.3; p = 0.003) and in the distance between teammates’ dyads (~19%, 0.9; ±0.2; p < 0.001). Oppositely, LINES condition decreased the longitudinal synchronization of players’ displacements (0.4; ±0.2; p = 0.002), players’ average speed (0.5; ±0.3; p = 0.002) and distance covered at lower (0.9; ±0.3; p < 0.001) and moderate speed (0.5; ±0.3; p < 0.001). Adding spatial references seems to promote a more structured pattern of play and increase positional regularity. However, coaches should be aware that this constraint may decrease the synchronization between players. Overall, these findings may be generalized to most invasion team sports.